Minnesota backed incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama for re-election, giving him 52.65% of the vote, while Republican challenger Mitt Romney took 44.96%, a victory margin of 7.69%. Minnesota has the longest streak of voting for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections of any state, having not voted Republican since 1972.

There is no formal system of allocating delegates to candidates in any step of the election process. At each meeting the participants decides what the best course of action is. The state convention can vote to bind the 13 at-large delegates to a candidate. The 24 delegates elected at the CD conventions and the 3 automatic (RNC) delegates are not legally bound to vote for a candidate.

17 February - 31 March: BPOU conventions elect delegates to the state convention and the congressional district conventions.